Goose Neck trailer pulling

Phred · Sep 1, 2004

Larry,

Well I hope you keep posting. I am not trying to argue but at the same time I feel the need to layout the facts, as I see them in my area.

My trailers has two 5200 lbs axels so it would seem It can legally haul just over the limit your talking about. Its the truck that has a GVWR of 9900 lbs.

I think you make the key point. It depends on where you are in this country.

Its common around here to pull very heavy trailers, way over 10K, with 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks. Now I have no official data.... but I do not know anyone that has gone out and obtained a CDL for this application.

I am talking about 1 tons with no DOT markings, pulling gooseneck trailers with dual axels, each with dual wheels. So these are 20K rated trailers. These trailers often are loaded with backhoes and sometimes dozers. Or stacked to the brim with round bales of hay. Even a short trailer may end up with the better part of 14K of hay plus the trailer weight.

I have never seen any of these truck pulled over for a chat with the highway patrol or the local PD.
I see tons of people pulled over for speeding, but not for driving in a reasonable way with a heavy trailer.

Fred

RedDog · Sep 2, 2004

( Larry,

Well I hope you keep posting. I am not trying to argue but at the same time I feel the need to layout the facts, as I see them in my area.

My trailers has two 5200 lbs axels so it would seem It can legally haul just over the limit your talking about. Its the truck that has a GVWR of 9900 lbs.

I think you make the key point. It depends on where you are in this country.

Its common around here to pull very heavy trailers, way over 10K, with 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks. Now I have no official data.... but I do not know anyone that has gone out and obtained a CDL for this application.

I am talking about 1 tons with no DOT markings, pulling gooseneck trailers with dual axels, each with dual wheels. So these are 20K rated trailers. These trailers often are loaded with backhoes and sometimes dozers. Or stacked to the brim with round bales of hay. Even a short trailer may end up with the better part of 14K of hay plus the trailer weight.

I have never seen any of these truck pulled over for a chat with the highway patrol or the local PD.
I see tons of people pulled over for speeding, but not for driving in a reasonable way with a heavy trailer.

Fred )

Fred,
Same here with what you mentioned above. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I still trying to figure out where this 10K number is coming from for CDL? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif With my license, I can drive anything, except a school bus. I think that 10K number is for what a trailer weighs empty,,, ex: semi trailer. It can not mean loaded.

RedDog

pekabu · Sep 2, 2004

It just dawned on me that I recently rented a 10k trailer to move my tractor. I had a really hard time trying to find a place to rent trailers. I asked them about it and he said trailers were the biggest claims in the Rental business, but they've had good luck so far. The trailer was bigger than I needed.

I don't know a lot about this area, but my Father in law has been pulled over a few times over the years with the DOT as a CDL truck driver (driving a TT). A couple of times they have pulled him over, and had to pull out the book, and call in the captain (or whover is in charge) to figure out what's what. Last time he sat there and hour and a half. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

SageBrush · Sep 2, 2004

Georgia: Class C

Motor vehicles less than 26,001 pounds and all vehicles not included within Classes A, B and M. This includes passenger cars, trucks and vehicles pulling a trailing unit that weighs less than 10,000 pounds (GVWR). All recreational vehicles may be operated with a Class C license. Applicant must be at least 18 years of age.

These things are not enforced, almost everybody I know that pulls a trailer goes over 10K. I pull 12K plus all the time with my equipment hauler. All the equipment rental stores haul bob cats on standard class C's around here.

Anyone try to get a Class A in a PU in Georgia? I've seen single axle dumps with 10 ton trailers taking the test. Never seen a person in a personal light duty truck taking the test.

Its not a big deal, cost a few bucks and takes up most of one day. A DOT Health Card may be a problem for some. You must pass a physical first. Maybe if I haul my ATV all the time I will look "recreational". /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

DavesTractor · Sep 2, 2004

The commercial motor vehicle act in 1986 was meant to standardize certain things between states. It appears there are certain minimum standards, but some states have even tighter rules.

California and some other states do require a class "A" for towing a 10K plus GVWR (not empty weight or loaded weight, but gross vehicle weight rating) non-RV or non-stock trailer, regardless of the towing vehicle size. Even so, California has only recently begun enforcing this, much to my dismay.

Federal Commercial CDL Info

So I think we have various opinions on this and probably many are correct due to the various state laws. It is worth checking with your local commercial highway patrol though, as it is bad news to get a "driving out of license" ticket.

DavesTractor · Sep 2, 2004

One other thing...I recently took my class "A" and used my pickup and 23' gooseneck trailer for the pre-trip, skills and road test. Seemed odd, but it wasn't a problem.

Bird · Sep 3, 2004

One of my brothers recently got his class A using a one ton dually Ford crew cab, pulling the 38' triple axle fifth wheel travel trailer he and his wife live in.

cowboydoc · Sep 3, 2004

All recreational vehicles may be operated with a Class C license. 

This is pretty much the statute in every state. It's important to make the distinction. I've hauled horses all over the country and never once in over a million miles been stopped or even questioned when I was pulled over for speeding or something. With my LQ trailer I'm always over 26k.

MikeIA · Sep 3, 2004

( One other thing...I recently took my class "A" and used my pickup and 23' gooseneck trailer for the pre-trip, skills and road test. Seemed odd, but it wasn't a problem. )

When I've renewed my CDL in Iowa the last couple of times, I've had to sign a form stating that I don't drive anything bigger than the vehicle I took my test in.

SageBrush · Sep 4, 2004

( ( One other thing...I recently took my class "A" and used my pickup and 23' gooseneck trailer for the pre-trip, skills and road test. Seemed odd, but it wasn't a problem. )

When I've renewed my CDL in Iowa the last couple of times, I've had to sign a form stating that I don't drive anything bigger than the vehicle I took my test in. )

Same here